S&P 500 FUNDAMENTALFORECAST: BEARISH
- Volatility may be elevated in view of presidential debates and a pending US fiscal stimulus plan
- US presidential election, coronavirus resurgence, and rising US Dollar are among the key risks
- Recent selloff may prove to be another âhealthy correctionâ in the medium-term bull run
S&P 500 Index Outlook:
Since early September, US stock markets entered a consolidative phase, pausing a five-month rally that was mainly driven by recovery hopes and Fedâs balance sheet expansion. With the Fed members warning a lengthy recovery and lacking fiscal stimulus support, equity markets seem to have lost some steam. Unwinding activities were seen in risk assets, whereas safe-haven assets were on bid. The US Dollar Index (DXY) has climbed to a two-month high of 94.4.
Although the central bank has signalled no rate hikes until year 2023 in the latest FOMC meeting, a slowdown in the Fedâs balance sheet expansion and its reluctancy to ease more weighed on market sentiment (chart below).
S&P 500 Index vs. Fed Balance Sheet (2015-2020)

Some near-term headwinds include the US presidential election, a âsecond waveâ of coronavirus in parts of the EU, and a pending US fiscal stimulus package. The first Trump â Biden presidential debate will be held next week, September 29 from 9:00-10:00 P.M. ET. This debate may draw millions of viewers and market volatility may rise during the debate. The CBOT VIX term structure has likely priced-in higher volatility associated with options on the S&P 500 index leading up to the November election (chart below).



Besides, credit risks are soaring among Chinaâs property developers, most of which are highly leveraged. Evergrande, one of Chinaâs largest real estate company, has warned of a possible debt restructuring if it doesnât get an IPO approval by end January. A failure by Evergrande to meet its debt obligations, if happens, will likely bring significant ripple effects to Asian bonds and stocks.
VIX Volatility Index Term Structureâ as at 09/24/2020

Back to US markets, recent selloff in equities appeared more like a âhealthy correctionâ in a medium-term bull run, because there seems to be lack of systemic risk. The US economy is riding a slow but steady recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. The unemployment rate has fallen to 8.4% in August from Marchâs high of 14.7%. Inflation - measured by US core CPI - has climbed to 1.7% in August from Aprilâs low of 1.2%.
The Fed have revised up this yearâs median US GDP growth forecast to -3.7% from Juneâs forecast of -6.5%. Meanwhile, the growth forecasts for year 2021 and 2022 have been slightly revised down to 4.0% and 3.0% respectively.
Economic projection of Fed Board members and Fed Bank presidents, Sep 2020

Source: federalreserve.gov



--- Written by Margaret Yang, Strategist for DailyFX.com
To contact Margaret, use the Comments section below or @margaretyjy on Twitter